Assisting a user in selecting a lighting device design

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to assisting a user in selecting a lighting device design by providing a lighting device design based on a model or image of a lighting device design (e.g. the user uploading an image of an existing lighting device in his/her home). The lighting device design of the model or image is analyzed in order to determine a lighting device design related variable (e.g. type, shape or color of lighting device design). This variable is then used to select a lighting device design from a set of lighting device designs (e.g. to select a lighting device design of the same color, from an electronic catalogue of lighting device designs); or to generate a lighting device design (e.g. to generate a lighting device design that is a copy of the lighting device design in the image, only smaller and in a different color). The invention further includes a system and computer program product for implementation of this method.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C.§ 371 of International Application No. PCT/IB2013/059606, filed Oct. 24,2013, which claims the benefit of European Patent Application No.12189754.0, filed on Oct. 24, 2012 and 13187887.8, filed on Oct. 9,2013. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method, system and computer program productfor selecting a lighting device design.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Selecting a lighting device design online requires a user to browsethrough a collection of lighting device designs being offered. This issimilar to browsing through a paper catalogue. The online serviceoptionally includes a function to search for lighting device designsbased on search criteria, such as type of device, brand, price range,etc. Although this is an improvement over a paper catalogue, the processremains essentially the same. The user selects a lighting device designmerely by comparing it to another lighting device design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved solutionfor selecting a lighting device design. In a first aspect of theinvention this object achieved in that a method is provided thatprovides a lighting device design based on a model or image of a (scenecomprising a) lighting device design. The method comprises the steps of:receiving through an interface (e.g. through a graphical user interface)any one of: a model of a lighting device design, an image of a lightingdevice design, or an image of a scene comprising a lighting devicedesign; determining a lighting device design related variable based onan analysis of respectively the model of a lighting device design, theimage of a lighting device design, or the image of a scene comprising alighting device design; and providing a lighting device design based onthe lighting device design related variable.

In an embodiment of the method according to the invention the step ofreceiving a model of a lighting device design comprises the userdesigning a lighting device design using a computer aided designapplication arranged for creating a model of a lighting device design.

In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the step ofreceiving an image of a lighting device design or an image of a scenecomprising a lighting device design, comprises the user selecting alighting device design or a scene comprising a lighting device designfrom a set of images of lighting device designs respectively a set ofimages of scenes comprising lighting device designs.

In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the lightingdevice design variable is any one of the following lighting devicedesign parameters: the lighting device design's position in the scene,the lighting device design's type, color, contrast, material, pattern,texture, size, style or a lighting property of the lighting devicedesign (e.g. the direction of light emitted, intensity of light emitted,color of light emitted).

In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the methodfurther comprises the step of: selecting (e.g. through a graphical userinterface) a user preference related variable by the user; wherein thestep of determining a lighting device design related variable is furtherbased on the user preference related variable.

In various embodiments of the method according to the invention, theuser preference related variable is variable is any one of the lightingdevice design parameters (position of the lighting device in the scene,the lighting device's type; or a color, contrast, material, decorationpattern, texture, size, style or a lighting property of the lightingdevice design). Alternatively or in addition, the user preferencerelated variable is the desired level of similarity between the selectedor generated lighting device design and the lighting device designcomprised in the model or image received. As an example, the desiredlevel of similarity comprises a similarity type related to a lightingdevice design parameter (e.g. color or height); and a similarity rangerelated to the desired variation within the lighting device designparameter (e.g. respectively light red to crimson red; or 1 meter to 2meters).

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention thestep of providing a lighting device design comprises selecting alighting device design from a set of lighting device designs, based onthe lighting device design related variable. In yet another embodimentof the method according to the invention the step of providing alighting device design comprises generating a lighting device design,based on the lighting device design related variable. As an example, thestep of generating a lighting device design can comprise the steps of:selecting a base lighting device design; and rendering a lighting devicedesign by adapting the base lighting device design based on the lightingdevice design related variable. In an embodiment the number of lightingdevice designs to be generated is based on user input (e.g. userselectable).

A second aspect of the invention provides a computer program productimplementing the method according to the invention. The computer programproduct comprising program code means designed to perform the method.Such a computer program product can be executed on a computer, such as apersonal computer or a laptop computer or a smart phone or a (3D) cameraor some other computing device.

A third aspect of the invention provides a system implementing themethod according to the invention. The system is arranged to receivethrough an interface (e.g. a graphical user interface or an applicationprogramming interface) any one of: a model of a lighting device design,an image of a lighting device design, or an image of a scene comprisinga lighting device design. The system further comprises: a processingunit and storage unit. The processing unit is arranged to determine alighting device design related variable based on an analysis ofrespectively the model of a lighting device design, the image of alighting device design, or the image of a scene comprising a lightingdevice design; and is further arranged to provide a lighting devicedesign, based on the lighting device design related variable. Datarequired in this implementation of the method is accessible on a storageunit.

All of the above can be implemented in a variety of ways, some of whichare described in the detailed description of the figures.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from andelucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.Appreciate, however, that these embodiments may not be construed aslimiting the scope of protection for the invention. They may be employedindividually as well as in combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows schematically and exemplarily a method for assisting a userin selecting a lighting device design based on displaying an imagecomprising the lighting device design applied to a scene,

FIG. 2 shows schematically and exemplarily a living room comprising alighting device design,

FIG. 3 shows schematically an embodiment of rendering an imagecomprising a lighting device design and a lighting effect applied to ascene,

FIG. 4 shows schematically an embodiment of a graphical user interfacefor assisting a user in selecting a lighting device design,

FIG. 5 shows schematically and exemplarily a system implementing amethod for assisting a user in selecting a lighting device design,

FIG. 6 shows schematically and exemplarily a method for assisting a userin selecting a lighting device design based on first selecting alighting effect,

FIG. 7 shows schematically and exemplarily a graphical user interfacefor selecting a scene by a user,

FIG. 8 shows schematically and exemplarily a graphical user interfacefor selecting a lighting effect by a user,

FIG. 9 shows schematically and exemplarily an image comprising alighting effect applied to a scene,

FIG. 10 shows schematically and exemplarily a graphical user interfacefor selecting a lighting device design by a user,

FIG. 11 shows schematically and exemplarily an image comprising alighting device design applied to a scene,

FIG. 12 shows schematically and exemplarily an image comprising alighting device design and a lighting effect applied to a scene,

FIG. 13 shows schematically and exemplarily a graphical user interfacefor designing a lighting device design by a user,

FIG. 14 shows schematically and exemplarily the method according to theinvention,

FIG. 15 shows schematically and exemplarily generating (a family of)lighting device designs based on randomization of lamp hood length,

FIG. 16 shows schematically and exemplarily generating (a family of)lighting device designs based on incremental increase in lamp hoodlength,

FIG. 17 shows schematically and exemplarily generating (a family of)lighting device designs based on the lamp hood length increasing basedon a logarithmic function,

FIG. 18 shows schematically and exemplarily generating various lightingdevice designs,

FIG. 19 shows schematically and exemplarily generating a lighting devicedesign family for various lighting device design types,

FIG. 20 shows schematically and exemplarily a method for assisting auser in selecting a lighting device design, through receiving an imageof a scene and analyzing this image in order to provide a lightingdevice design,

FIG. 21 shows schematically and exemplarily various materials, texturesand patterns,

FIG. 22 shows schematically and exemplarily a scene comprising variousmaterials, textures and styles and related lighting device designs,

FIG. 23 shows schematically and exemplarily a method for suggesting alighting device design to a user,

FIG. 24 shows schematically and exemplarily a website comprising abanner comprising an image of a lighting device design,

FIGS. 25A and 25B show schematically and exemplarily a search tool whererespectively a query is entered and results for the query are displayed,

FIG. 26 shows schematically and exemplarily a mobile device connectedthrough a network to a database comprising a profile of a user, and

FIG. 27 shows schematically and exemplarily a profile of a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a method for assisting a user in selecting a lightingdevice design by displaying an image comprising a selected lightingdevice design applied to a selected scene. The method comprises thesteps of: selecting a scene by a user 100; selecting a lighting devicedesign by the user 102; and displaying an image comprising the selectedlighting device design applied to the selected scene 104. Selecting ascene 100 is based on selecting a room from a set of room types or basedon the user providing an image. Selecting a room type from a set of roomtypes comprises selecting a word or an image representing a room typefrom a set of words or images representing a set of room types. Roomtypes comprise a bathroom, a living room, a master bedroom, a kitchen, ahallway, a study, etc. A room type comprises variations of a similarroom, such as a modern living room, a classical living room, aminimalist living room, a large living room, a small living room, etc.When the user provides an image to create a scene, this image comprisesa photograph which the user has taken or is taking as part of the sceneselection step. Alternatively the user provides a video recording, asketch or any other graphical representation of, as an example, the roomin which a lighting device, purchased based on the selected lightingdevice design, will be installed.

Selecting a lighting device design 102 is based on the user selecting alight source, a lighting device design type or a combination of these.Examples of light sources a user can choose from comprise incandescent,halogen, LED, fluorescent or discharge lamps, etc. Each light source canhave a specific lighting effect. These light sources have staticfeatures such as wattage, maximum light intensity, color temperature,etc. An example of such a light source is a 60 W, frosted, incandescentlight bulb (e.g. ‘Philips 60 Watt Incandescent Director’ light bulb).Alternatively, these light sources have variable features, such as colortemperature, color, ability to be dimmed, etc. An example of such alight source is a LED retrofit light bulb that is dimmable and changesin color temperature from warm white to cool white (e.g. ‘Philips MASTERLEDbulb DimTone 8-40 W’ light bulb). Examples of lighting device designtypes a user can choose from comprise a ceiling lamp, table lamp, desklamp, spot light, floor light, etc. An example of such a lighting devicedesign type could be a hanging ceiling lamp (e.g. ‘Philips DayWaveBPS800’). Optionally these selection steps are combined, whereby theuser selects a lighting device design type and a default light source ischosen automatically. The user then has the option to select a lightsource other than the default. In another example, the light sources auser can choose from are limited to those that are compatible with thechosen lighting device design type. If otherwise a light source isselected that is not compatible with the selected lighting device designtype, the user receives a warning message to select a different lightsource from those light sources that are compatible with the chosenlighting device design type. Alternatively the user is forced to changethe selected light source to one that is compatible with the chosenlighting device design type. Preferably, the selection of a lightingdevice design type is limited to those lighting device design types thatare compatible with the scene selected. As an example, selecting abathroom as the scene limits the lighting device design types that areselectable to those that are safe to use in a bathroom (e.g. lightingdevice design types rated IP6 for being waterproof).

As an example, the user selects more than one lighting device design,such as a ceiling lamp and a table lamp. Both lighting device designsare then displayed in the image comprising the selected lighting devicedesigns applied to the selected scene. Preferably, the lighting devicedesigns can be positioned only in specific positions in the scene. Theuser is then, for example, provided with a visual clue (e.g.highlighting a position in the displayed image), to make apparent that alighting device design can be included at that position in the scene.This is advantageous as the user is assisted in determining where aselected lighting device design can be placed and where additionallighting device designs can be placed in a scene. Also, the user canthen ‘drag and drop’ a lighting device design in the vicinity of such aposition in the scene whereby the lighting device design is then placedat the specific position where it fits in the scene. As an example, thevisual clue includes a suggestion, such as the suggestion to select adesk lamp with a cool white LED light bulb to be placed on a desk thatis present in the scene. In this example, the suggestion is based on thetask a user performs at that position in the scene (i.e. the user mightappreciate cool white light for reading documents while seated at thedesk). Other examples of suggestions provided to the user comprisesuggestions based on the mood, atmosphere or ambience a user wants tocreate in the scene. Such information can be deduced by analyzing thescene, for example, by analyzing the dominance of colors and patterns(e.g. dominant presence of white in a room with little clutter canindicate a minimalist style). The analysis can be based on various otherelements, such as scene's geometrical data or the presence in the sceneof a material, a shape or an object.

Suggestions can also be based on selections the user has made, forexample, a suggestion can be provided to select a lighting device designbased on the user's previous selection. The various selections a usermakes can be used to create a user profile. As an example, if the userselects multiple lighting device designs comprising three light sources,a suggestion can be made for other lighting device designs of such kind.The profile can also include information on how long a user has viewed ascene with a first lighting device design compared to a second lightingdevice design (e.g. to determine which lighting device design is more tothe user's liking). By requesting user feedback, such as throughrequesting the user to rate lighting device designs, user preferencescan be taken into account directly. Lighting device designs that sharemore similarities with highly rated lighting device designs can besuggested first.

A user profile can also comprise data from external sources, such as auser's musical preferences based on his/her online playlist (e.g.through the ‘last.fm’ website). As an example, a strict preference formusic from the 1960's can lead to a suggestion for a retro lightingdevice design. Next to suggestions based on a user's profile,suggestions can also be based on profiles of other users, for example byanalyzing a user's social network (e.g. a user's Facebook social graph).If multiple friends of a user have selected a specific lighting devicedesign (e.g. a light therapy device) this lighting device design can besuggested to the user. Recommendations from other users, lightingdesigners, (famous) artists, etc. can also be the basis for suggestingto the user to select a scene, a lighting device design or a value for alighting property of a lighting device design.

The image comprising the selected lighting device design applied to theselected scene 104 is displayed to show the user what the selectedlighting device design looks like in the selected scene. The image iscreated before or after the user has selected the scene and lightingdevice design. Creating it beforehand requires a multitude ofcombinations of scenes, lighting device designs and lighting propertiesto be considered. Creating it after the scene and lighting device designselection has been made by the user, introduces a delay between the userselection and displaying the image. The image can be created based onblending an image representing the scene, an image representing thelighting device design and an image representing a lighting effect basedon a lighting property of the lighting device. This limits the number ofimages that have to be created beforehand and at the same time limitsthe delay between user selection and displaying the image.

As a further example, when an image is presented to the user any of thefollowing changes can be made: changes to the selection of the scene,changes to the selection of the lighting device design and changes tothe setting of the properties of the lighting device design. Thesechanges are made by the user or are suggested to the user. As anexample, one or more element is fixed, such as keeping the scene, butchanging the lighting device design and the lighting properties; orchanging the scene but keeping the lighting device design. A change toone element can result in changes to another element, for example, whenthere are dependencies. When changing the scene from a study to a livingroom, for example, a ceiling lamp remains while a desk lamp is removedfrom the scene. As another example, changing the lighting device designfrom a lighting device design type that hangs from the ceiling to alighting device design type comprising a spot light built into theceiling changes the beam angle. Changes can result in warning messages,further suggestions or the user being forced to make changes to theselected scene, lighting device design, or lighting properties of thelighting device design or a combination thereof.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an image of a lighting device design appliedto a scene. The image shows a living room 200, comprising the roomitself 202 and a lighting device design 204 present in this room. Thelighting device design 204 comprises a fixture 206 and a light source208. As an example, the fixture 206 shown is a hanging lamp and thelight source 208 shown is an incandescent light bulb. In this exemplaryfigure, the room 202 comprises a ceiling 210, left wall 212, rear wall214 and floor 216. The fixture 206 is shown to be attached to theceiling 210 and located above the furniture 218 that is present in theroom 202. This living room 200 looks familiar to the user as it, forexample, resembles in one or more ways a room in the user's own house.The user views the lighting device design 204 of his/her choosing in thecontext of this room 202.

FIG. 3 shows an example of how to create an image 300 comprising theselected lighting device design applied to the selected scene. For eachscene there is an image representing that scene 302. By means of theuser selecting a scene, an image representing the scene 302 from a setof such images 304 is selected. By means of the user selecting alighting device design, an image representing the lighting device design306 from a set of such images 308 is selected. By means of the userselecting a value from a range of values for a lighting property, animage representing a lighting effect based on a lighting property of thelighting device design 310 is selected from a set of such images 312.Alternatively, an image representing a lighting effect based on alighting property of the lighting device design is selected by othermeans, for example, it is selected based on the selected lighting devicedesign, the selected scene, a default value or a combination of any ofthese.

As a further example, the image comprising the selected lighting devicedesign applied to the selected scene can be rendered by taking: a firstimage representing the scene, a second image representing the lightingdevice design and a third image representing a lighting effect based ona lighting property of the lighting device design. Eq. 1 is presentedhere to better understand this.VR=VS _((i)) +VL _((j)) +VE _((k))  Eq. 1, where:

-   -   VR is an image comprising the selected lighting device design        applied to the selected scene,    -   VS is an image representing the scene,    -   VL is an image representing the lighting device design,    -   VE is an image representing a lighting effect based on a        lighting property of the lighting device design,    -   i, j and k refer to the respective images representing the        selections the user has made; and    -   the operator (+) represents the application of a function to any        of the images.

Rendering the image of the selected lighting device design applied tothe selected scene using this method, requires only a repository with aset of images representing the scenes from which the user can makehis/her selection, a set of images representing the lighting devicedesigns from which the user can make his/her selection and a set ofimages representing a lighting effect based on a lighting property ofthe lighting device designs. It is not required to have a repositorycontaining images of each of the many combinations of these scenes,lighting device designs and lighting properties of these lighting devicedesigns. For the avoidance of doubt, the method can be implemented insuch a way that images from these sets of images need not have the samesize, dimensions, dynamic range, format, etc.

Applying 314 the selected lighting device design to the selected scene,can comprise the application of a blending algorithm. As an example,each pixel from the pixel matrices that are the image representing thescene and the image representing the lighting device design is blendedby means of applying a normal blend mode. This results in the imagerepresenting the lighting device design being applied as a top layer tothe image representing the scene. The image representing a lightingproperty of the lighting device related to the lighting device designcan then be blended with the image resulting from the previous blendingstep. As an example, a linear dodge blend mode is applied in this step.This is an application of a sum function to the pixel values of theimages. As a result those areas of the scene that are affected by thelight emitted by the lighting device related to the lighting devicedesign become brighter. There are various blend modes (e.g. multiply,overlay, lighten only) and combinations of blend modes that can be usedto combine the images in order to create an image comprising theselected lighting device design applied to the selected scene. Althoughin these examples the lighting effect related to the lighting propertiesof the selected lighting device design are applied to the scene as well,this is optional. For example, to lower the amount of processing powerneeded (e.g. to speed up the rendering of the image), the lightingeffect can be omitted from the image.

In FIG. 3, three different images 302, 306, 310 are selected. However,implementations are possible with either more than or less than threeimages. As an example, the lighting device design and the scene arerepresented by a single image, the lighting device design and theproperties of the lighting device design are represented by a singleimage, a lighting effect based on the lighting properties of thelighting device design or the lighting device design itself arerepresented in multiple images (e.g. multiple images, each representinga specific component of a lighting device design). Also, various stepscan be introduced in order to render the image based on, for example,images having different sizes, dimensions, dynamic ranges, formats, etc.Given the example of images having different sizes, a step can beintroduced that resizes images prior to images being combined.

As an example, referring to Eq. 1, the user having selected the largemodern living room (‘LMLR’) as the scene; a first (‘L1’) and a second(‘L2’) lighting device design as lighting device designs; and thedefault lighting properties of the lighting device designs (‘DP1’ and‘DP2’ respectively); the equation is written as follows:VR=VS_((LMLR))+VL_((L1))+VE_((DP1))+VL_((L2))+VE_((DP2)).

FIG. 4 shows an example of a graphical user interface for assisting auser in selecting a lighting device design. This example of a graphicaluser interface comprises two main elements: a first element 400comprising a lighting device design selection interface and a secondelement 402 comprising both the image comprising the selected lightingdevice design applied to the selected scene, as well as a sceneselection interface.

The graphical user interface has means for selecting a scene 404 andselecting a lighting device design 406. The currently selected lightingdevice design is shown 408 as well as the image 410 comprising theselected lighting device design applied to the selected scene.Additional options in the user interface are available through a pulldown menu 412. These options can comprise finding similar lightingdevice designs (e.g. lighting device designs of the same productseries), removing the lighting device design from the image 410,replacing the lighting device design in the image 410, etc. The pulldown menu 412 can also be arranged to allow the user to scroll throughall lighting device designs from a selection of available lightingdevice designs, to search for a specific lighting device design, tochange the interface (e.g. show smaller thumbnails of the lightingdevice designs), etc. The lighting device designs from which the usercan make a selection 406 comprise any number of options and features,for example, the images are complemented with other informationcomprising a name, description, category or rating (e.g. check mark forcompatibility, star rating for popularity, eco symbol for environmentalfriendliness) where applicable. Selections made by the user are used tomake further suggestions, create favorites, track history, etc., forexample, by storing user made selections in a user profile.

Any changes to the selected lighting device design 408 are shown in theimage 410. In an embodiment of the graphical user interface, a value,from a range of values, of a lighting property of the selected lightingdevice design is selected and the related lighting effect is included inthe image 410. The lighting properties are set, for example, based onthe scene selected, the position of the lighting device design in thescene, the type of lighting device design selected, etc. Lightingproperties comprise the direction of light emitted, intensity of lightemitted, color of light emitted and position of the lighting devicedesign. These properties are selectable from a range (e.g. selecting avalue of 3000 Kelvin for the color temperature from a range of 1000Kelvin-5000 Kelvin). Alternatively, a subset of a range is selectedwhich has as a result that the image changes over time. An example ofsuch a selection of a subset of a range is to select as a lightingeffect to color cycle. Similarly, if a dim level is changed from, forexample, 100% (i.e. not dimmed) to 40% this can be shown in the image410 as a gradual change. Lighting properties are set to a default valuewhich, as an example, is based on the selected scene. The scene canadditionally include outside light sources, such as daylight enteringthe scene through a window 416, 418, 420, 422, 424. Such a light sourcealso has lighting properties (e.g. based on the season or time of day)and in this example one of the lighting properties is set by the userthrough a day/night switch 426. Similarly, the dim factor of a lightingdevice design is set by the user when the user, through an input devicesuch as a mouse or touchscreen, approaches the area close to thelighting device design 414 and a slider appears allowing the user to setthis dim factor. Other such ‘hot zones’ are included in the graphicaluser interface, for example, to show where additional lighting devicedesigns can be placed 428, 430. Feedback is provided to the user toencourage interaction with the graphical user interface, for example,through providing hints in the bar 432. This is just one example of agraphical user interface and many other implementations are possible.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a system implementing a method for assistinga user in selecting a lighting device design. This system comprises apersonal computer 500 with an internet connection 502 to access a cloudbased storage unit 504 such as a web enabled server. In otherembodiments of the system, other devices, such as a PDA, portablecomputer, tablet, kiosk, etc. are used instead of a personal computer.The storage unit in these other embodiments can be implemented as, forexample, a local hard disk drive, an optical drive with an opticalmedium, etc.

The personal computer has a display capable of displaying a graphicaluser interface 506. It captures user input through a keyboard 508, amouse, trackball, touchpad, touchscreen, or another human machineinterface. The processing unit 510 is arranged to process the userselecting, for example, a scene or a lighting device design; and it isfurther arranged to render an image, such as an image comprising theselected lighting device design applied to the selected scene. Thesystem includes a storage unit 504, accessible to the processing unit510, capable of storing any of the following: data related to a scene,data related to a lighting device design, data related to user input,data related to a graphical user interface. An example of data relatedto a lighting device design in this example, is a set of imagesrepresenting the lighting device designs from which a user can choose;and a set of images related to lighting properties or lighting effectsof these lighting device designs. The architecture of the system isbased on requirements such as speed of rendering an image, number ofscenes and lighting device designs a user can choose from, etc.

FIG. 6 shows a method for assisting a user in selecting a lightingdevice design by first selecting a lighting effect. The method 600comprises four steps: In a first step 610 the user selects a scene andin a second step 620 the user selects a lighting effect. These steps canbe performed in reverse order. In a third step 630 an image is displayedcomprising the selected lighting effect applied to the selected scene.This image can additionally comprise a lighting device design; howeveran especially beneficial implementation of the method is where nolighting device design is shown in the image. The user can then select alighting effect without taking the lighting device design intoconsideration. This can assist a user in making a better selection asthe choice he/she makes only involves determining whether the selectedlighting effect is appreciated in the selected scene.

In execution of this method, the user is first presented a lightingeffect as part of a scene (e.g. broad beam down light from the center ofthe ceiling applied to a living room), allowing the user to choose thelighting effect prior to choosing the lighting device design. In afourth step 640 the user selects or designs the lighting device design.Selecting a lighting device design can comprise selecting a lightingdevice design from a set of lighting device designs (e.g. from anelectronic catalogue of lighting device designs). Designing a lightingdevice design can comprise, for example, the user using a computer aideddesign application to design a lighting device design, the userselecting one or more lighting device design modules (e.g. selecting anoptical module, a light source module and a fixture module) or acombination of these (e.g. the user selecting an optical module and alight source module and subsequently designing the fixture or part ofthe fixture such as the lampshade).

The lighting device design that the user selects or designs is arrangedto provide a lighting effect similar or equal to the selected lightingeffect. As a first example, the user selects a broad beam down lightlighting effect with a beam width of 23 degrees. The user can thenselect a lighting device design, through the user interface, from a setof down light lighting device designs that are arranged to provide a 23degree beam width. This set of lighting device designs can be a subsetof the lighting device designs included in an electronic catalogue ofsuch lighting device designs. In case there are no or very few lightingdevice designs providing this lighting effect, the user can be allowedto select down lights with a beam of 20 to 26 degrees, for example.Determining which lighting device designs are arranged to provide alighting effect similar to the selected lighting effect, can be basedon, for example, predetermined ranges (e.g. max. 3 degree variation ofbeam angle, max. 100 degree Kelvin color difference) or variable rangesthat allow a user to always be presented at least 10 lighting devicedesigns to choose from or at most 50 lighting device designs to choosefrom.

In an additional step (not shown), an image can be displayed comprisingthe selected lighting device design applied to the selected scene. Thisprovides as an additional benefit, visual feedback to the user relatedto the selections he/she has made. Alternatively, an image can bedisplayed comprising the selected lighting device design and theselected lighting effect applied to the selected scene. This allows theuser to even better determine whether he/she is satisfied with theselections he/she has made. The method can be implemented in aniterative manner, providing the user an opportunity to change selectionsmade earlier and, for example, provide real time updates to thedisplayed image. The user can then try several combinations (e.g. afirst lighting device design in a first scene and a second lightingdevice design in this same first scene) to determine, for example, whichlighting device design he/she wants to purchase.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a graphical user interface 700 for selectinga scene. In this example a user is presented a number of scenes tochoose from through, in this example, four images of a scene 710, 720,730, 740. Two are images 710, 720 of respectively a living room and abedroom drawn in perspective to provide the user with a sense of depth.The third image 730 is simply a corner of a room, allowing the user toselect a detail (e.g. this could be the corner of one of the other roomsthe user can select as a scene). The fourth image 740 is a top view of aliving room. In this example, the user interface can be used to selectbetween various scenes as well as different parts and views of a scene.The image of the scene shown through the user interface 700, does notnecessarily have to be the same as the image of the selected scene thatis referred to in “an image comprising the selected lighting effectapplied to the selected scene”. The user interface 700 can, for example,show a thumbnail image of a larger image of the scene, a still image ofa moving image of the scene, or simply provide a description (in words)of the scene, etc.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a graphical user interface 800 for selectinga lighting effect. In this example a user is presented a number oflighting effects to choose from through, in this example, four images ofa lighting effect 810, 820, 830, 840. Three images 810, 820, 830 showthe number, direction and width of light beams drawn in perspective. Thefourth image 840 shows a top down view of the lighting effect on a flatsurface.

In this example, each image shows a light distribution as lightingeffect. The user interface could guide a user through several steps, inorder for him/her to select different lighting properties, such as lightdistribution, light color, light intensity, etc. In a single stepmultiple lighting properties could be selected at once, for example whenthe user selects an image representing as lighting effect both a lightintensity and color.

FIG. 9 shows an example of an image 900 comprising the selected lightingeffect applied to the selected scene. In this example, the living roomscene has been selected by the user (this scene was selectable throughimage 710 as shown in FIG. 7). To this selected scene the selectedlighting effect has been applied (this lighting effect was selectablethrough image 810 as shown in FIG. 8). The result, in this example, isan image 900 that shows a dark, shaded area 910 and a light, unshadedarea 915 in the living room scene 920. In various embodiments the imagecan be an animation, a rotatable and/or zoomable image or interactiveimage (e.g. light sources can be switched on/off, or dimmed).

FIG. 10 shows an example of a graphical user interface 1000 forselecting a lighting device design. In this example a user is presenteda number of lighting device designs to choose from through four imagesof lighting device designs 1010, 1020, 1030, 1040. Three images 1010,1020, 1030 show a side view of a lighting device design. The fourthimage 1040 shows a bottom up view of a lighting device design. Invarious embodiments of the user interface, the selected lighting effectcan be applied to the image of the lighting device design, the images ofthe lighting device designs can show animations of differentperspectives of the lighting device designs, etc. The user can be guidedthrough selecting a lighting device design by making multiple choices inmultiple steps, such as first choosing a material (e.g. copper,aluminum) or a size (e.g. large, 20 cm wide) and then being presentedlighting device designs to choose from.

FIG. 11 shows an example of an image 1100 comprising the selectedlighting device design (this lighting device design was selectablethrough image 1020 in FIG. 10) applied to the living room scene (thisscene was selectable through image 710 as shown in FIG. 7).

FIG. 12 shows an example of an image 1200 comprising the selectedlighting device design and the selected lighting effect applied to theselected scene. In this example, the living room scene has been selectedby the user (this scene was selectable through image 710 as shown inFIG. 7). To this selected scene the selected lighting device design(this lighting device design was selectable through image 1020 in FIG.10) and the selected lighting effect have been applied (this lightingeffect was selectable through image 810 as shown in FIG. 8). The result,in this example, is an image 1200 that shows a dark, shaded area 1210and a light, unshaded area 1215 in the living room scene 1220 with thelighting effect seemingly originating from the lighting device relatedto the selected lighting device design as displayed in the image 1230.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a graphical user interface 1300 fordesigning a lighting device design. The graphical user interfaceprovides a cursor 1310 which the user can control using, for example, amouse (not shown) and allows the user to make selections, executedrag-and-drop and other operations within the graphical user interface1300. The graphical user interface 1300 comprises a menu area 1320 witha first section 1330 arranged for a user to select various shapes and asecond section 1330 for a user to select various light sources.Operations performed by the user in the graphical user interface lead tochanges in the lighting device design preview 1350. In this example, abasic rectangular shape 1360 has been chosen as fixture for the lightingdevice design. The user can instead select a different basic shapethrough the first section 1330 of the menu area 1320. As a furtherexample, the lighting device design comprises an optics module 1370which, as indicated in the preview 1350 by the highlighted shape of thisoptics module 1370, cannot be changed by the user as this optics module1370 determines the lighting effect produced by the lighting deviceaccording to the lighting device design. The lighting effect, in thisexample, has been previously selected by the user and the user istherefore guided by the user interface to design a lighting devicedesign arranged to provide a lighting effect similar or equal to theselected lighting effect.

This is a very basic example of a graphical user interface for designinga lighting device design. Alternatively or in addition, more advancedcomputer aided design applications can be used. Such a computer aideddesign application can be provided directly through the graphical userinterface 1300 or through a separate application (e.g. offline) inconjunction with the user providing this design (e.g. in a DWG or DXFformat) through the user interface 1300 (e.g. through uploading thefile).

FIG. 14 shows a method 1400 for assisting a user in selecting a lightingdevice design through providing a lighting device design based on amodel or image of (a scene comprising) a lighting device design. Themethod 1400 comprises a first step 1410 of receiving, through agraphical user interface, any one of: a model of a lighting devicedesign, an image of a lighting device design, or an image of a scenecomprising a lighting device design. As an example, a user can upload afile comprising the model or image, or the user can design the lightingdevice design through the graphical user interface if the graphical userinterface comprises a computer aided design application. In a secondstep 1420 a lighting device design related variable is determined basedon an analysis of respectively the model of a lighting device design,the image of a lighting device design, or the image of a scenecomprising a lighting device design. As a first example, analysis of themodel of the lighting device design can determine, for example, thesize, shape and potentially also color and materials of the lightingdevice design. As a second example, image analysis of the image of thelighting device design can determine shape, color, materials andpotentially also lighting properties (e.g. brightness, lightdistribution) of the lighting device design. As a third example, imageanalysis of the scene comprising the lighting device design candetermine the same variables as the image analysis of the lightingdevice design and alternatively or in addition determine the dominantstyle in the room, the most contrasting color in the room, a positionwhere the lighting device design can be placed, etc. Each of theseanalyses can determine a lighting device design related variable, suchas the type of lighting device design (e.g. ceiling lamp) or the colorof the lamp hood (e.g. red). Multiple analyses can be combined todetermine, for example, more complex variables such as style (e.g.classical, modern) or enhance the analysis capabilities, for example,upon detecting a dominant presence of the color baby blue, analyze theimage for the presence of toys or cartoon characters (e.g. to suggest alighting device in the shape of a specific cartoon character). In athird step 1430 a lighting device design is selected or generated basedon the lighting device design related variable. Selecting the lightingdevice design can be based on selecting a lighting device design from,for example, an electronic catalogue of lighting device designs, basedon which lighting device design has most lighting device designvariables in common with the lighting device design in the imageprovided by the user. Generating a lighting device design can be basedon applying one or more of the determined lighting device designvariables to a base lighting device design (e.g. adapting the baselighting device design, such as a standing lamp, to the lighting devicedesign type, such as a desk lamp, based on the image analysis). This canbe done automatically by the system, or the determined lighting devicedesign variables can be offered as (more) prominent options in thegraphical user interface thereby enabling a user to more easily adjust alighting device design by offering easy selection of the determinedlighting device design variables.

FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 show three examples of how lighting device designscan be generated based on a base lighting device design 1500. The baselighting device design 1500 comprises a stand 1502, a pillar 1504 and alamp hood 1506. The height of the lamp hood 1506 of the base lightingdevice design 1500 is taken as a minimum height 1510, and a maximumheight 1515 of the lamp hood is provided (e.g. as a user preferencerelated variable or based on safety or production limitations). The area1530 represents various possible heights of the lamp hood in lightingdevice designs that can be generated. In each of the three examplesshown in respectively FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, four lighting device designsare generated (respectively 1540, 1550, 1560, 1570; 1640, 1650, 1660,1670; and 1740, 1750, 1760, 1770) with the first design 1540, 1640, 1740being a copy of the base lighting device design 1500. The stand 1542,1552, 1562, 1572 and pillar 1544, 1554, 1564, 1574 are the same in eachof the lighting device designs. Only the height of the lamp hood variesin this example, with the exception of the first lighting device designgenerated 1540, 1640, 1740 which is a copy of the base lighting devicedesign 1500 and as such has a lamp hood 1546 similar to the lamp hood1506 of the base lighting device design 1500.

FIG. 15 shows the generation of lighting device designs based onrandomly determining a lamp hood height. This results in three lightingdevice designs 1550, 1560, 1570 being generated each with a lamp hood1556, 1566, 1576 of various height. Although this example illustratesvarious lamp hood sizes, lighting device designs can be generated byvarying lighting device design type (e.g. desk lamp, hanging lamp),color, contrast (e.g. use of contrasting colors in the lamp hood, use ofmatching colors for the lamp hood and the stand), material, decorationpattern, texture, size, style or other properties.

FIG. 16 shows the generation of lighting device designs based ondetermining the lamp hood height based on a linear distribution. Thefirst lighting device design 1640 generated is similar to the baselighting device design 1500 and the fourth lighting device design 1670generated comprises a lamp hood 1676 that matches the maximum height1515 for the lamp hood. The two other lighting device designs 1650, 1660that are generated have a lamp hood 1556, 1666 that are a third of thedifference between the minimum height 1510 and maximum height 1515 apartfrom respectively the lamp hood 1546 of the first design 1640 and thelamp hood 1676 of the fourth design 1670. The line 1600 shows therelation between the height of the lamp hoods 1546, 1656, 1666, 1676.Other examples of lighting device designs generated based on such adistribution are color variations (e.g. where each lighting devicedesign is 500 degrees Kelvin apart, or one of the components of the RGBvalue varies by a factor 10), size variations in other parts of thelighting device design (e.g. the stand, the width of the hood or theheight of a standing lamp), density of a pattern (e.g. number of stripesper meter in a pinstripe pattern), etc.

FIG. 17 shows the generation of lighting device designs based ondetermining the lamp hood height based on a non-linear distribution.Again, in this example, the first lighting device design 1740 generatedis similar to the base lighting device design 1500 and the fourthlighting device design 1770 generated comprises a lamp hood 1776 thatmatches the maximum height 1515 for the lamp hood. The two otherlighting device designs 1750, 1760 that are generated have a lamp hood1756, 1666, each following the line 1700 which represents an exponentialdistribution for the lamp hood height. Other theories and rules can beapplied in generating lighting device designs, such as applying the‘golden ratio’ or Fibonacci numbers. Similarly, tools related to colorpalettes and user preferences for colors can be used (e.g. Adobe Kulerservice) as well as ‘rules’ related to color use such as complementarycolors, adjacent colors, adjacent complementary colors, triads andtetrads. These are merely some examples of design rules that can beapplied to lighting device design generation.

FIG. 18 shows the generation of lighting device design families. Astanding lamp design 1802 is used as the base lighting device design(e.g. this lighting device design was selected or designed by the useror the user has provided an image of a scene comprising this lightingdevice design). The base lighting device design 1802 comprises threeelements: a stand 1804 a column 1806 and a lamp shade 1808. In thisexample four lighting device designs 1812, 1822, 1832, 1842 aregenerated based on varying the dimensions of one of these elements. Foreach of these four designs as well as for the base lighting devicedesign 1802, three additional lighting device designs 1850, 1860, 1870,1880, 1890 are generated through varying the shape of the lamp hood. Inan embodiment, the user can select the number of lighting device designsthat are to be generated.

In this example, the first design 1812 comprises a lamp hood 1818 thatis narrower (compared to the base lighting device design); and thesecond design 1822 comprises both the narrower lamp hood 1818 as well asa narrower stand 1824. For the third design 1822 the position of thelamp has been reversed (from standing to hanging), resulting inreplacing the stand by a connector 1834 that allows for the lamp to beattached to a ceiling. The fourth design 1842 is again a standing lampdesign, now with the corners of the lamp hood 1848 rounded. For each ofthe lighting device designs 1802, 1812, 1822, 1832, 1842 mentionedabove, three further designs are generated by varying the shape of thelamp hood. Each design 1802, 1812, 1822, 1832, 1842 relates to a familyof lighting device designs, respectively 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890.As an example, the base lighting device design 1802 provides a family1850 comprising three designs 1852, 1854, 1856 each having aprogressively more narrow top of the lamp hood. The other lightingdevice design families, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 also have lighting devicedesigns 1862, 1864, 1866; 1872, 1874, 1876; 1882, 1884, 1886; 1892,1894, 1896 that vary in a similar manner.

The user interface can display a lighting device design that has beengenerated, or a family of lighting device designs, in an iterativemanner for the user to make a selection. As an example, the user canfirst be presented lighting device designs 1802, 1812, 1822, 1832, 1842to make a first selection from and then, assuming the user has selectedlighting device design 1842, be presented lighting device designs 1842,1892, 1894, 1896 to make a final selection. This is merely one exampleof the generation of lighting device designs and lighting device designfamilies.

FIG. 19 shows the generation of a family of lighting device designswhere the family comprises various lamp types. In this example, the baselighting device design 1902 comprises a desk lamp, and this design isused to generate a hanging lamp design 1912, a standing lamp design 1922and a wall mounted lamp design 1932. The base lighting device design1902 comprises three elements: a stand 1904 a column 1906 and a lampshade 1908. The lamp shade 1908 remains the same in the hanging lampdesign 1912 and the standing lamp design 1922, as in the desk lampdesign 1902. The stand 1904 is replaced by a connector 1914 in thehanging lamp design 1912 and another type of connector 1934 in the wallmounted lamp design, whereas it remains the same in the standing lampdesign 1922. The hanging lamp design 1912 comprises the same columndesign 1906 as the desk lamp 1902. In the standing lamp design 1922 thecolumn 1926 has been adapted to better fit this type of lighting devicedesign, it has been made narrower and the height of the column 1926 hasincreased. The wall mounted lamp 1932 does not comprise a column;instead the column 1906 of the base lighting device design has beenreplaced by two components 1936, 1937 that couple the connector 1934 tothe lamp hood 1938 which itself has been narrowed compared to the lamphood 1908 of the desk lamp 1902. This is merely one example of thegeneration of a lighting device design family comprising various typesof lighting device designs. In a similar manner, other lighting devicedesigns (e.g. spotlights, integrated lights, table lights) can begenerated.

FIG. 20 shows a method 2000, for assisting a user in selecting alighting device design, through receiving an image of a scene andanalyzing this image in order to provide a lighting device design. Themethod 2000 comprises four steps: In a first step 2010 an image of ascene is received, after which in a second step 2020 the image isanalyzed in order to determine a scene related variable. This scenerelated variable is the basis for the third step 2030 of providing alighting device design, which is then, in the fourth (optional) step2040, displayed, through the user interface. The image of the scene canbe received through a graphical user interface (e.g. by allowing a userto upload an image) or some other interface, such as an applicationprogramming interface (API). The latter can allow a user to capture animage or video using his/her mobile phone by calling the API of thecamera application. The image of the scene can be, for example, an imageof the user's bedroom for which he/she wants to select a lighting devicedesign. As another example, the image of the scene can be an image of aroom (e.g. the honeymoon suite of the hotel the user stayed at and whichatmosphere he/she wants to recreate), a garden (e.g. the view of thegarden from the room for which the user is selecting a lighting devicedesign), or something else (e.g. a clipping from a magazine featuring apattern the user appreciates) which the user wants to use as startingpoint for providing a lighting device design.

Analyzing the image can comprise determining a position in the scene forplacing a lighting device, for example through object recognition. If itis determined that the scene comprises a ceiling, a lighting devicedesign for a hanging lamp can be generated; if the scene comprises abedside table a small desk lamp or a night light can be selected. Suchlighting device designs can then be placed in a logical position basedon object recognition. Similarly an open area can be detected where astanding lamp could fit, or in a more advanced application of the methodsuggestions can be made for the user to reposition furniture, a plant orexisting lamps. In analyzing the image, alternatively or additionally, acolor or a color palette can be determined that is used as a basis forproviding lighting device designs. As an example, the color of the wall,ceiling or floor can be determined; or the color range that is mostfrequently used in the scene (e.g. yellow hues) Likewise, the image canbe analyzed to determine what materials are present and could be used toselect or generate a lighting device design that would match thematerial choices of the scene. If the scene comprises wood (e.g. awooden floor, a view of a forest) and earth tone colors, a selection ofa lighting device design comprising mostly natural materials can furtherenhance the atmosphere of the scene. As a further example, the scene cancomprise patterns, such as patterns that are of a decorative nature.Some examples of patterns are: the width of wall paneling, a patternprinted on wall paper or the relationship between the size of windowspresent in the scene and the size of the wall area comprising thesewindows. Any one of these, and many other patterns detected, can be usedas a basis for providing a lighting device design (e.g. generating alamp hood with a stripe pattern that has the same stripe width tospacing ratio as the wall paneling). As yet a further example, the imageof the scene can be analyzed to determine a style, such as the stylethat a room in the image of a living room is decorated in. Presence offew colors and little furniture can, for example, indicate a minimaliststyle, whereas the presence of floral patterns and pastel colors canindicate that a room is decorated in a romantic style. In a furtherembodiment, as part of the analysis, the user can be requested toprovide input to validate analysis results (e.g. provide the user thequestion “Would you describe your living room as being decorated in an‘Avant Garde’ style?”) and/or to provide user preference relatedvariables, such as favorite color (which can be used to select orgenerate a lighting device design), favorite music style (which can beused to select a color palette; e.g. dark colors for heavy metal or thecolors of the Jamaican flag if the user is a Bob Marley fan).

FIG. 21 shows some examples of images of materials, textures andpatterns that can be recognized through image analysis. As a firstexample, wood, metal, wall plastering and concrete bricks can bedetected in an image (respectively image 2110, 2120, 2130, 2140) basedon, for example, color, pattern and texture analysis. As a secondexample, a pattern that is present in an object in the scene (e.g.wallpaper, curtains) can be detected in an image comprising the pattern2150, 2160. As a further example, if the image comprises a floralpattern 2150, this floral pattern can be replicated to a lamp hood in alighting device design; if the images comprises a fantasy pattern 2160in the color pink, this can lead the analysis to determine that the roomin the scene is the room of a teenage girl. These examples areillustrative of the analyses that can be performed on an image of ascene, there are however many more types of analysis that can be used todetermine a scene related variable.

FIG. 22 shows an image of a scene 2200 and a set 2250 of variouslighting device designs that have been selected or generated based onanalysis of the image 2200. In this example, analysis of the image ofthe scene has determined that the scene comprises a bedside table 2210without a light. As such a set 2250 of four small bedside lamp designsare selected or generated. The scene comprises a bed with a linentexture 2230, wall paneling with a vertical stripe pattern 2240 and aclassical painting 2250. Furthermore, the room in the scene does notcomprise a ceiling lamp nor windows. The set 2250 of lighting devicedesigns that are selected or generated based on the analysis of theimage of the scene comprises four lighting device designs: two designs2260, 2265 that are generated and two designs 2270, 2280 that have beenselected (e.g. from an electronic catalogue of lighting device designs).One design 2260 is generated based on the image analysis havingdetermined a stripe pattern as a scene related variable (e.g. thevariable can be the pattern; or the color, spacing and/or width of thestripes), another design 2265 is generated based on the image analysishaving determined that a linen texture is present in the scene. In thesetwo examples, the lighting device design 2260, 2265 respectively includethe pattern or the texture (e.g. the material choice) in the lamp hood.A further two designs 2270, 2280 are selected from a set of lightingdevice designs (e.g. from the set of lighting device designs availablefor sale through an online retailer). One design 2270 is of a classicalstyle (e.g. selected from a range of lighting device designs that arelisted in an electronic catalogue as neoclassical) and relates to thepresence of the classical painting 2250 in the image of the scene 2200;the other design 2280 is a basic desk lamp design but comprises twolight sources and relates to the detection of a lack of other lightingdevice designs or windows in the scene. As another example, theselection or generation of a lighting device design can comprise aprocess involving the user making multiple selections for each of: typeof lamp (e.g. bedside table lamp), size of lamp (e.g. medium), type oflight source (e.g. high power LED), fabric of lamp hood (e.g. linen) andpattern printed on fabric (e.g. stripes) in order to guide the userthrough the generation process.

FIG. 23 shows a method 2300 for suggesting a lighting device design to auser. In a first step 2310, user interest information is acquired. Thisuser interest information can be acquired from sources such as an(online) user profile (e.g. a Facebook profile, a customer profile),input the user has provided (e.g. a search query, an email message theuser has written), content the user is consuming (e.g. a website theuser is visiting, a video the user is viewing) or the location a userhas visited or is at (e.g. based on GPS coordinates of the user's smartphone, location information included in EXIF data related to a picturethe user has taken or details of a user's travel plan included in anagenda or a hotel booking). In a second step 2320 a lighting devicedesign related variable based on the acquired user interest informationis determined. Examples of design related variables of a lighting devicedesign are the size, shape, color, material of (part of) the lightingdevice design, the lighting properties (e.g. brightness, lightdistribution) of the lighting device design, the type (e.g. standinglamp, ceiling lamp) of the lighting device design, etc. Some examples ofdetermining lighting device design related variables based on userinterest information are: analyzing photos in the user's photocollection (e.g. stored in the user's profile) to determine a preferencefor a color, material or style (e.g. based on selecting photos of theuser's home and analyzing the color of the walls, the material of theflooring and decorative elements present, such as Buddha statues,posters of singers and entertainers, etc.); analyzing a user's posts(e.g. on Facebook, Google+), Twitter messages, email messages, 9Gag orPinterest postings, etc. for keywords that convey an emotional state(e.g. madly in love, stressed for an upcoming exam) or the occurrence ofa (life) event (e.g. an upcoming concert, a romantic date forValentine's day) which can indicate a preference for a shape (e.g. aheart shaped lighting device to reflect love), a color (e.g. red or pinkto reflect love), a print or pattern (e.g. based on the user's favoriteband, brand or Internet meme) or a lighting device type (e.g. a desklamp for studying for an exam, preferably with light properties, such asthe color and intensity of the light, that enhance concentration); oranalyzing location information to assess where the user lives,vacations, works etc. to determine a print (e.g. the local sports team),a style (e.g. an African themed lighting device design if the user hasbeen on holiday in Africa) or type of lighting device (e.g. a PhilipsWake-up light if the distance between the user's home and work locationis large and (s)he could use some help in waking up comfortably). Theacquired user information can relate directly to the user; alternativelyor additionally user information related to friends of the user can beacquired (e.g. analyze postings made by a friend or family member of theuser on Facebook). Although examples are provided of how keywords,images and locations can be acquired as user interest information, theseare merely examples of types of user interest information that can beacquired. Data that is not in a user-readable format, such as variablesrelated to user activity, can additionally or alternatively be acquiredas user interest information. Such variables can be stored in a databasecomprising, for example, transaction information (e.g. earlier purchasebehavior of a user), user data points (e.g. based on data mining or userprofiling), etc.

In a third step 2330 a lighting device design is provided based on thelighting device design related variable; and in a fourth step 2340 animage of the provided lighting device design is displayed to the user.The lighting device design can incorporate lighting device designrelated variables, for example a lighting device design can be generatedwhich comprises a print (e.g. a photo of the user's pet) on the lamphood. As another example, a lighting device design can be selected (e.g.from a catalogue of lighting device designs) based on a color that ispart of the user interest information, such as selecting a green lamp ifthe user, based on photos stored in his/her Flickr account ofhim/herself wearing green clothing items, seems to like this color. Theimage of the provided lighting device design can, for example, bedisplayed to the user as part of an advertisement on a website the useris visiting, as a suggestion in a lighting device design tool (e.g. acomputer aided design application) or integrated in an image or videothe user is viewing (e.g. when the user is shopping for a couch online,an image of a living room featuring the couch can further comprise thelighting device design provided using this method). The advertisementcan comprise a link to a website where a lighting device according tothe lighting device design can be purchased. Such a link can comprisethe lighting device design (e.g. variables needed to generate thelighting device design can be part of the Uniform Resource Locator), areference to the lighting device design (e.g. a link to a model of thelighting device design) or user interest information enabling thelighting device design to be provided (e.g. generated) once more, now bythe website offering it for sale. The lighting device design cancomprise parts that are manufactured, for example, using an additivemanufacturing process (e.g. 3D printed), and parts that are readilyavailable (e.g. generic parts). All parts or components needed toproduce the provided lighting device design can be combined into apackage for shipment to the user (e.g. with an assembly manual includedor preassembled).

FIG. 24 shows a website 2400 as displayed to a user (not shown). Thewebsite 2400 comprises a header 2410 (e.g. a title of an article) and abody 2440 (e.g. the article itself) as well as an advertisement 2430 fora lighting device design. The advertisement comprises an image 2440 of alighting device design and pricing data 2450 (or other informationrelated to the lighting device design, such as brand name, model name,ordering information or a call for action, such as “click here toorder”). The advertisement 2430 can be a separate frame in the website2400 and be loaded from a server other than the server providing therest of the website (e.g. the article), the advertisement can be loadedthrough an advertising network (e.g. DoubleClick, AdSense), etc. Theimage 2440 of the lighting device design is displayed as part of themethod according to the invention. In this example, user interestinformation can be acquired based on scanning the body 2420 for keywords(e.g. the presence of “living room” and “decoration” in the text of thearticle) possibly in combination with user interest information acquiredfrom the user's Facebook profile (e.g. the website 2400 can incorporatean API allowing the user, logged into his/her Facebook account, to posta comment and at the same time allowing the website to access the user'sFacebook profile). The user reading an article on decorating a livingroom, in combination with a Facebook post of a photo of a house(presumably the house the user has recently moved to) can lead todetermining a lighting device design type (a standing lamp) and alighting device design style (e.g. colonial, if the house in the photohas colonial features such as a white porch) as lighting device designrelated variables. Using these two lighting device design relatedvariables, the method can provide a lighting device design. For example,a lighting device design can be selected from a catalogue, a lightingdevice design can be generated (e.g. if the catalogue does not comprisea lighting device design that matches the two lighting device designrelated variables) or part of a lighting device design can be generatedwith the image 2440 showing this partial design in the context of thegraphical user interface of a design tool and the advertisement 2430further comprising a call for the user to complete the design to his/herliking (e.g. below the image, instead or on top of pricing information2450).

FIGS. 25A and 25B show a search tool 2500 provided as a website (e.g.Google, Yahoo, Baidu or another search engine) where a user enters asearch query (FIG. 25A) and gets the results (FIG. 25B) of this searchquery. The user can enter the search query into a search query inputfield 2510 and can click on a button 2520 to execute the search. Theresults page 2530 shows the results list 2510 (e.g. clickable links towebsites) as well as a first 2550 and second advertisement 2560. One (orboth) of these can be an advertisement comprising an image of a lightingdevice design as per the method according to the invention. In anotherexample, the search results are images and an image of a lighting devicedesign is include in the results (e.g. as if it were a regular searchquery result).

FIG. 26 shows a computer device 2600 with a display 2610 and a firstconnection 2620 to a network 2630 (e.g. the Internet). The network 2630provides a second connection 2640 to a data source 2650 (e.g. adatabase, a website, a server) comprising a profile of a user 2660. Thecomputer device 2600 can be a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptopcomputer, a desktop, a (3D) camera or any other type of device arrangedfor executing a computer program. The display 2610 can display an imageof a lighting device design according to the method of the invention.Such an image can be displayed, for example, when a user starts anapplication arranged for suggesting a lighting device design or it canbe displayed as part of an advertisement in an application (e.g. abanner at the bottom of the screen when the user plays a game on thecomputer device 2600). Displaying the image of the lighting devicedesign can be triggered by the application the user executes on thecomputer device or it can be pushed, for example, as a message (e.g. anotification on a notification screen or lock screen) by a server (e.g.an advertising service running on a server connected to the computerdevice 2600 via the Internet). As a first example, the user can start anapplication on the computer device 2600 which connects to the datasource 2650 through the network 2630 via a wireless Internet connection(e.g. GPRS, UMTS, WiFi). The application then acquires user interestinformation from this data source 2650, in this case the user profile2660 pertaining to this user. The user profile can be acquired as userinterest information based on identifying the user (e.g. through acookie placed on the computer device 2600), by identifying the computerdevice 2600 (e.g. through a processor identifier, a MAC address), byidentifying the connection (e.g. through an IP address) or any othermeans. The application can then analyze the user profile to determine alighting device design related variable, such as analyzing the music theuser has played through accessing his/her Spotify profile (or anotherstreaming music service) to determine ‘jazzy’ as a lighting devicedesign style. The application can then select a lighting device designthat is marked as having a ‘jazzy’ style from a collection of lightingdevice designs (e.g. through an online service) and display an image ofthis selected lighting device design. As a second example, the varioussteps of acquiring user interest information, determining a lightingdevice design variable and providing a lighting device design can beperformed by a server, such as the server running the database thatfunctions as data source 2650. The computer device 2600 can then accessa website hosted by the server, where the website comprises anadvertisement for a lighting device design.

FIG. 27 shows a user profile 2700 in a human readable format (e.g. as itwould be displayed through a website). Alternatively or in addition, theprofile could be acquired directly through an interface with, forexample, a database which stores the user profile data. The user profile2700 comprises a theme 2710 (e.g. a background image, a color or ageneral theme for the profile that determines font, formatting and otheraspects of the appearance of the user profile 2710) and a profilepicture of the user 2720. The profile 2700 further comprises posts 2730,2740 the user has made (e.g. posts that provide status updates tofriends or posts made automatically by applications that shareinformation regarding what article the user has read on a news site,what music the user is listening to or which movie the user has boughttickets for and will see tonight) and a collection of photos 2750 whereeach photo 2752, 2754, 2756, 2758 can link to a photo album or a largersize image. Applying the method according to the invention, userinterest information such as the text of a post 2730, the user profilepicture 2720 or a photo 2752 can be acquired. A lighting device relatedvariable can be determined based on this user interest information. Forexample, a post 2730 made by the user to notify friends of the birth ofa child can lead to determining as a lighting device design relatedvariable a lighting device design type, such as a ‘nightlight’ (e.g.based on keywords such as “birth” or “delivery”; or based on an image ofa baby being posted); the user profile picture 2720 can lead todetermining as a lighting device design related variable a color (e.g.based on the color of the shirt the user is wearing in the user profilepicture 2720); or a photo 2752 of a vacation destination can lead to aprint or style being determined as a lighting device design relatedvariable (e.g. a photo showing a New York city landmark such as theStatue of Liberty can lead to providing a lighting device design thatshows a New York skyline).

The user profile 2700 need not necessarily be a profile hosted through ageneric service (e.g. Facebook, MySpace, Google+), but can also be alocal profile stored on a device (e.g. search history stored in abrowser on the user's laptop) or a profile created of a user in anonline store selling lighting devices (e.g. user interest informationrelated to earlier purchases and lighting device designs viewed). Userinterest information can be acquired from any source and can be based onuser input (e.g. searches performed, messages posted or sent), useractivity (e.g. where or when a user has gone online, what websites werevisited), output provided to the user (e.g. what advertisements wereshown earlier), etc.

In this application, “providing” a lighting device design can refer toselecting a lighting device design from a set of lighting device designs(such as from one or more lighting device designs in an electroniccatalogue). Providing a lighting device design can also refer togenerating a lighting device design or multiple lighting device designsfor selection by the user. Providing a lighting device design can alsorefer to the user designing a lighting device design (and optionallyassisting the user in designing a lighting device design) for selectionupon completion of the design process. Where the phrase providing alighting device design is used, one could instead read at least one ofselecting, designing or generating a lighting device design.

The user selecting a lighting device design (or a lighting device designproperty, a preference, a lighting property, etc.) can be an explicitselection, such as the user providing input through an input device(e.g. a keyboard, mouse, touch interface) in order to select a lightingdevice design (or a lighting device design property, a preference, alighting property, etc.). It is however not limited to such explicitactions, but instead, in an embodiment, can also include the userimplicitly selecting a lighting device design (or a lighting devicedesign property, a preference, a lighting property, etc.). Such implicitselections can be based on the detecting the user's gaze, the amount oftime spent viewing a certain lighting device design, the user hoveringover a lighting device design (e.g. the user hovering a mouse pointer orthe user hovering his/her finger over a touch input device) or thefrequency of viewing a lighting device design.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustraterather than limit the invention and that those skilled in the art willbe able to design alternative embodiments without departing from thescope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placedbetween parentheses shall not be constructed as limiting the claim. Theword ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of elements or steps notlisted in a claim. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does notexclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention canbe implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elementsand by means of a suitable programmed computer. In the unit claimsenumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by oneand the same item of hardware or software. The usage of the words first,second and third, etcetera do not indicate any ordering. These words areto be interpreted as names. No specific sequence of acts is intended tobe required unless specifically indicated.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for generating a lighting devicedesign, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, through agraphical user interface or an application programming interface, a filecomprising an image of a fixture comprising at least one of color,contrast, material, decoration pattern, and texture of the fixture;analyzing, by a processing unit, the received image of the fixture usingimage analysis; determining, by the processing unit, a lighting devicedesign related variable based on the analysis of the received image, thelighting device design related variable comprising a type of fixture;generating, by the processing unit, an alternate lighting device designbased on the lighting device design related variable determined by theprocessing unit; and installing a lighting device comprising a fixturebased on the generated alternate lighting device design in a room. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the image of alighting device design or the image of a scene comprising a lightingdevice design, comprises a user selecting a lighting device design or ascene comprising a lighting device design from a set of images oflighting device designs respectively a set of images of scenescomprising lighting device designs.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe lighting device design related variable further comprises any one ofthe following parameters: a position of the fixture in the scene, color,contrast, material, pattern, texture, size, style or a lighting propertyof the fixture.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the stepof: selecting a user preference related variable by a user; wherein thestep of determining a lighting device design related variable is furtherbased on the user preference related variable.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein the user preference related variable is any one of the followingparameters: a position of the fixture in the scene, color, contrast,material, pattern, texture, size, style or a lighting property of thefixture.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the user preference relatedvariable is a desired level of similarity between the provided lightingdevice design and the lighting device design comprised in respectivelythe received image of a lighting device design or image of a scenecomprising a lighting device design.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereinthe desired level of similarity comprises a similarity type related to alighting device design parameter; and a similarity range related to adesired variation within the lighting device design parameter.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein a number of lighting device designs to begenerated is based on user input.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein thestep of generating an alternate lighting device design comprises thesteps of: selecting a base lighting device design; and rendering alighting device design by adapting the base lighting device design basedon the lighting device design related variable.
 10. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium comprising software code portions forperforming the steps of: receiving, through a graphical user interfaceor an application programming interface, a file comprising an image of afixture comprising at least one of color, contrast, material, decorationpattern, and texture of the fixture; analyzing, by a processing unit,the received image of the fixture using image analysis; determining, bythe processing unit, a lighting device design related variable based onthe analysis of the received image, the lighting device design relatedvariable comprising a type of fixture; and generating, by the processingunit, an alternate lighting device design based on the lighting devicedesign related variable determined by the processing unit, when saidsoftware code is executed on a computer.
 11. A system configured togenerate a lighting device design, the system comprising: an interfacefor receiving an image of a fixture comprising at least one of color,contrast, material, decoration pattern, and texture of the fixture; aprocessing unit, capable of analyzing the received image of the fixtureat least one of color, contrast, material, decoration pattern, andtexture of the fixture using image analysis; determining a lightingdevice design related variable based on the analysis, the lightingdevice design related variable comprising a type of fixture; and furthercapable of generating an alternate lighting device design based on thelighting device design related variable; a storage unit, accessible tothe processing unit, capable of storing: the image of the fixturecomprising the lighting device design and data related to the interface;and a room in which a lighting device comprising a fixture based on thegenerated alternate lighting device design is installed.
 12. The systemof claim 11, wherein the interface is a graphical user interface; andthe system further comprises a display capable of displaying thegraphical user interface.